Need Some Info!!

[Gmatt]

Alright... I am a 19 year old male and deffinately want to go the nursing route. I have done some college, but I will tell you the truth I am more of a hands on learner,( have about 20 credits/gpa wasnt soo hot). Right now I took a semester off to think about what I want. I currentyl recieved a job at a local nursing home that is paying for me to get CNA certified. I am thinkin that after I do the CNA program, go in to the LPN program at a local vocational school. How much hourly do LPNs get paid? Are LPNs looked down upon? I am also thinking that maybe after the LPN program, then going for RN. Is there such things as LPN to RN programs? Would going from CNA -LPN- RN be more hands on and worth the time? Please give you opinions, any infor mation will be greatly apprecitated.

Greg

[cougarnurse]

Alright... I am a 19 year old male and deffinately want to go the nursing route. I have done some college, but I will tell you the truth I am more of a hands on learner,( have about 20 credits/gpa wasnt soo hot). Right now I took a semester off to think about what I want. I currentyl recieved a job at a local nursing home that is paying for me to get CNA certified. I am thinkin that after I do the CNA program, go in to the LPN program at a local vocational school. How much hourly do LPNs get paid? Are LPNs looked down upon? I am also thinking that maybe after the LPN program, then going for RN. Is there such things as LPN to RN programs? Would going from CNA -LPN- RN be more hands on and worth the time? Please give you opinions, any infor mation will be greatly apprecitated.

Greg

Hey, Greg! Welcome to the site!

You sound like you have a good plan there. Some people go straight for their RN, but for others, it isn't always an option (money, etc.) But, I did the LPN to RN routine, and yes, I got quite a bit of hands on. But, you still have studying to do.

Yes, there are LPN to RN programs; you'd have to check your area for the nearest one.

As for pay rates....it varies. And if anyone 'looks down' on you because you're an LPN, well....ignore them. Some of the best people I currently work with are LPNs!

'Cat'

[LTC LPN 2006]

I am a LPN and love it. I remember when I worked as a CNA the best nurses were the ones who started out as CNAs. They knew what it was like to be a CNA and truely apprecited you and were willing to help out. There is nothing wrong with going CNA - LPN - RN. I'm happy as a LPN and will probably stay one for a while. The one thing that would make me go on for the RN is that there are some things that require you to be a RN or even a BSN. (Such as getting certified in a specialty). I wouldn't go on just to change my title from LPN to RN because I'm happy in long term care and I work side by side with RNs and value their knowledge, but work just as hard none the less, and in LTC there is not much a RN can do that a LPN can't. That has been my experience anyhow!

[suzirn]

Speaking from experience, I would just do the RN program straight and not waste time or money doing LPN if you really want to do nursing. I became a medical assistant and wish that I would have just went to RN program because it cost me $6000 to get certified as a medical assistant. The Rn program in Texas cost me $4000 in loans so not all of it went to tuition so it was even less than that. If you really want to do nursing just go to the RN program you make double what you make as a graduate LPN an hour and you spend only one more year in school for RN. I wish I would have just started RN program rather than starting M.A. certification which took me 1 yr. to complete. I would have been half way done in RN school and $6000 richer. Now if you're not sure you want to do nursing the LPN is a great way to find out because it is less schooling and cheaper to try out in case it ends up not being the route for you. Graduate LPN's (right out of school) in Texas start at $12-$14/hr. I as an RN am making $32/hr. Good luck to you.

[LTC LPN 2006]

I believe where I work the pay difference between RN & LPN is only a few dollars. LPNs start at $19/hr at the nursing home I work at and RNs might start at $23?? I'm not sure, but I don't think the difference here is that huge. But I guess it also depends on what type of nursing you go into.

[NavyJim58]

Gmatt, since your asking for advice I'll give you mine. Go the ADN route and not LPN.

Short story. When I decided to be a nurse thinking it would be a good second career (before the Navy let me change specialties after we won the cold war, another story) I worked as a CNA while attend an ADN program at Kapiolani Community College in Hawaii. I would come home after a shift at a hospital or nursing home and tell my wife that CNA's did all the work and the nurses were always on break. In Hawaii you can get your LPN license after your first year of Nursing schools so I did and worked as a LPN for a year. As a LPN I would come home and tell my wife how lazy the CNA's and RN's were and that I did all the work. Once I got my RN I would come home and you guessed it.....told my wife I did all the work and could never find the CNA and the LPN was lazy. Its all in your perspective.

thanks for listening

[missy417]

HI, I have been a LPN for 6 years and wish I would have went ahead and did my RN..Does anyone know if any state allows a LPN to challenge the RN boards?

[AmandaWIRN]

HI, I have been a LPN for 6 years and wish I would have went ahead and did my RN..Does anyone know if any state allows a LPN to challenge the RN boards?

As far as I know, you must have a nursing degree from an accredited nursing program to take boards (either BSN, or ADN).

[onetraveler]

Alright... I am a 19 year old male and deffinately want to go the nursing route. I have done some college, but I will tell you the truth I am more of a hands on learner,( have about 20 credits/gpa wasnt soo hot). Right now I took a semester off to think about what I want. I currentyl recieved a job at a local nursing home that is paying for me to get CNA certified. I am thinkin that after I do the CNA program, go in to the LPN program at a local vocational school. How much hourly do LPNs get paid? Are LPNs looked down upon? I am also thinking that maybe after the LPN program, then going for RN. Is there such things as LPN to RN programs? Would going from CNA -LPN- RN be more hands on and worth the time? Please give you opinions, any infor mation will be greatly apprecitated.

Greg

I personally like your mode to objective. I believe nursing should be an apprenticeship.

Being a CNA will give you a first hand look at nursing. The real "poop" of the job so to speak. You'll learn some lingo, what other areas there are to pursue. etc.
You could go to LPN school as soon as you finish your CNA course. Work as a CNA while going to LPN school. You'll find out pretty quickly whether this profession is for you without wasting 2-4 years of schooling.

When you've been an LPN for a year or so go back and get your BSN. The only way to go in this day and age. Might as well get it out of the way as a way to be an RN.

With your foundation as a CNA and LPN you will be able to build a solid house. RN.......

I believe being both a CNA and an LPN are wonderful ways to enter this profession. AAMOF I see now where many nursing programs (undergrad) are requiring students to be CNA's during school. That wasn't the case when I went to RN school.

I was an LPN for 17 years. I will tell you that some of the instructors weren't up on hospital policy and procedures and relied on me to help them. i.e. hanging blood. While I couldn't hang blood as an LPN. Yeah right I couldn't spike the bag, I did know the steps required to administer it. So the lab instructor used my knowledge to teach her class. On other occasions I was a persona non gratis because I believe the instructors knew I knew more than they did. I worked as an LPN on a busy M/S floor for 11-12 years. Had to know my stuff.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide. Work hard and keep on keeping on. It's an uphill climb but the view from the top can be awesome.

:luck:

[LindaLouRN]

Hello,

Please please go the LVN/LPN route first. You will NEVER regret it especially as you advance in your career. And it is an excellent way of getting your foot in the door if your GPA isn't so hot. Most of the best nurses I have ever worked with are or were LVN's first and then went back to school. LVN school teaches you so much about skills and how to apply those skills and how to actually take care of a patient. RN school teaches a lot of theory and tells you how to do a skill but you get very little practice time and even less patient care time. You get much better preparation for taking care of patients in LVN school. I am partial to LVN's because I started out as one and I am currently an instructor at our local junior college in the LVN program! We do have one of the best LVN programs in the great state of Texas at Wharton County Junior College. We'd love to look at your application if you are close to the area!